Forward discusses return he is making to his old club at the end of the month

Former Leyton Orient forward Jabo Ibehre is excited to link up with the promotion-winning squad of the 2005/06 campaign for a charity match in support of Prostate Cancer, arranged by O’s youth team coach Errol McKellar.

Former West Ham United manager Harry Redknapp will take charge of a star-studded Men United XI against a squad of Orient legends at Brisbane Road on May 31.

Martin Ling will be manager of the O’s team, while Barry Hearn will return as chairman for the day, with John Mackie the team captain again.

Ibehre, who ended the current season on loan at Barnsley, is looking forward to returning to Brisbane Road.

“It will be great to see everyone again,” Ibehre told leytonorient.com.

“Although I don’t speak to all of the players as much as I would like, life sometimes moves with time, but I am always thinking of everyone.

“That team will always have time for each other because it was such a good collective group filled with like-minded people, and I think no matter where we are we will always have time for each other.”

The 33-year-old has had spells with Walsall, MK Dons, Colchester and many other clubs since leaving Orient in 2008.

Ibehre admitted even when he departed Brisbane Road, he knew friendships he had developed wouldn’t just stop.

“Sometimes you leave clubs and know that you will remember a player, but never speak again, but that is not the case with all the Orient boys,” added Ibehre.

“We have always got time for each other. Even on Twitter, where Mackie does abuse me sometimes, but it is fun to see him there!

“I’m not on Twitter as much as I could be or as often as I would like, but I know John is there and doing okay, so I am happy with that.”

Ibehre isn’t 100 per cent confirmed to play in the charity match because he is expecting the birth of his first child around the same time, but he hopes he can play.

And if he does, the forward wants to link up with old strike partners Gary Alexander and Lee Steele again.

Ibehre added: “They were both great strikers to play with. Gary was an excellent goalscorer as was Lee, so I learnt a lot from them and to be a part of that mix playing with them was great for my experience in the game.

“It was an awesome collective and that season we also enjoyed a great run in the FA Cup by beating Fulham. Sometimes things like that happen and you are just on a crest of a wave and end up having a really successful time.”

Those were the days for O’s and you can relive those memories on May 31!

If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the East London Advertiser. Click the link in the yellow box below for details.

PROMOTED CONTENT

The new NHS Test and Trace service launched across England on May 28 forms a central part of the Government’s coronavirus recovery strategy to help us all get our lives back to something like normal. Here we explain how the system will work and answer some of the key questions which have been raised by members of the public.

Schools across the country have been preparing for some of their pupils to return to the classroom. Here is how one group of schools has been getting ready to make sure pupils can be taught safely and get on with lessons.